Meat slicer uses 3D scanner to ensure precise cuts

Nantsune's new Libra 165C meat slicer uses 3D imaging to cut meat to the precise weight every time

In the past, we've seen 3D scanning widely used in a variety of industries - clothing retail, law enforcement, medical education, etc. - but it's still a little surprising to see the same technology applied to a slab of meat. Nantsune's new Libra 165C meat slicer does exactly that however, capturing a 3D image of a piece of meat, ready to be butchered, and then using the data to make slices at the same precise weight every time.

In case you're not familiar with modern butchering technology, most automatic meat slicers on the market now make uniform cuts and then weigh and measure the slices afterward. With a displacement scanner taking a 3D image, the Libra 165C can operate in the reverse, accurately measuring the shape of the meat and then cutting it so each slice weighs the same, with varying thickness. Aside from improved accuracy, this method also means the slicer can operate much faster than most, producing 6,000 slices an hour. Currently, the machine is designed for pork, but could theoretically be modified for any type of meat.

Nantsune plans to release the new slicer in late June for about US$$160,000 (approx. AUD$157,146). The Diginfo.tv video below shows just how fast the whole process can be, as the Libra 165C turns a slab of meat into carefully sliced cuts in seconds.

Jonathan grew up in Norway, China, and Trinidad before graduating film school and becoming an online writer covering green technology, history and design, as well as contributing to video game news sites like Filefront and 1Up. He currently resides in Texas, where his passions include video games, comics, and boring people who don't want to talk about either of those things.

combine this with the burrito bot and get yourself a burrito rolling machine (theyre out there, google it) and youve got a nifty robotic burrito shop!!

Mack McDowell

Not too bad performance. However I am an engineer in a bacon making factory and our Weber slicer from Germany has the same technology for years!. We take a 3D image of the log of bacon and slice it at 1000 slices per minute (60,000 per hour!) and all are gram accurate. The machine also remembers shapes and makes adjustments accordingly. We can slice portions of bacon to be packed by robot and can tell you how many grams over target we are running at. So while it is cool to read about this, it isn't too new.